An article published in the program of the summercamp

In the early years of the ham radio, men were actively involved in the hobby while Xyls supported them in the background, or not.
The very first YL in Finland is OH5YL, Ms. Marjatta Kirsi living in Vyborg (Viipuri), later Marjatta Klemola, who later got the call sign OH2OW. According to my earlier information Marjatta got her licence in 1934, but when I recently had the opportunity to go through the History of Viitosten Kerho (The District Five club), I found black on white, that Marjatta had already been involved as early as 1932. Thus we Finnish YLs can celebrate our 50th anniversary, maybe even our 52nd anniversary.

When we go forward, we can find the second YL in 1937, she was then OH2YL Margareta Eloranta. The wars during the 1930s and 1940s interrupted the ham radio activity for nearly eight years. But after that YL activity has increased faster. In the 1948 edition of the Paatero Radiokirja (Paatero's Radio Book), there are the following six girls in the OH-listings: Leila OH1NF, Kirsti OH1OK, Marjatta OH2OW, Raili OH2QW, Kaarina OH2YL, and Helga OH7YL.

The number of YL station call signs for various years:

year	1950	10			year	1970	43
year	1956	11			year	1975	56
year	1957	18			year	1980	108
year	1963	30			year	1983	127
year	1965	38			year	1984	139

These numbers are not absolutely accurate, because of the removals, but they can be taken as guidelines.

I do not know whether or not the YLs had any activities together in the beginning. However when the club Viitosten Kerho OH5AA held in 1959 the Summer Camp in Mussalo, Kotka at the Qth of OH5RZ and OH5NA, there were over 80 participants, six of which were YLs with a call sign: OH2FB, OH2TO, OH2GX, OH5SL, OH5YL and OH5RZ. They got an idea to start their own meetings, and the founding meeting was held that same year in the home of Kisse OH2FB in Helsinki. Seven YLs participated and they decided to start skeds on 80 meters. The skeds later ended due to bad evening conditions and the Qrm by some enthusiastic OMs. Kaarina OH2YL was elected to press secretary and she wrote for many years for the Radioamatööri-magazine (the magazine of The Finnish Amateur Radio League. Radioamatööri = "Ham Radio Operator"). After that Virpi OH2BE, Aila OH2BIN and Sylvi OH5RZ wrote for the magazine.

In the next meeting YL-award, a flag for The Finnish Amateur Radio League, and a name for the YL-club were discussed. Unofficial meetings were held in the homes of YLs and also during the Finnish Amateur Radio League annual meetings and summer camps. The rules for the Finnmaid award were introduced in the Ham Radio Operator magazine 2/63. For several years, Kaija OH2BB handled giving out the award. In 1970 the YL-sign was created to be attached onto a bracelet.

The actual activities included a visit to Tallinn in June, 1969, the YL-camp at Pohtimolampi in September 1970 and "The Trip To The Norwegian Sea" in March, 1972. Nine YLs went to Tallinn, and the reception by the local hams was warm. To Pohtimolampi the YLs travelled by train and the boys of the OH9-district helped us a lot with equipment acquisition. The local newspaper Pohjolan Sanomat (still published in the area) wrote about the trip (Ham Radio Operator magazine 19/70): "For a moment, Pohtimolampi was the demanded and wanted point on the European radio map." Another extract from the same newspaper: "The campers had two stations, one for SSB, another for CW, and both of them were reserved throughout the whole camp."

Ten YLs participated in "The Trip To The Norwegian Sea" and eight of them had a call sign. The destination was nowhere near Norway or it's sea; instead, it was just over a kilometre south from OH5RZ's Qth, on the ice of the Gulf of Finland. The day was sunny and we had fun. We had a station, an antenna, and a tent with us. Aila OH2BIN and Kisse 0H2FB later wrote a story that was published in the Ham Radio Operator magazine 4/1972: "OH2HYL/M/Artic", as it happened to be around the April Fools' Day. In spite of the "colouring", some took the story seriously (after all, pancakes are seldom made on ice).

After some rather quiet years I have noticed with pleasure that YL-activity has lately become more lively. There is a YL-sked on 80 meters and many other groups on 2 meters as well as face to face QSOs from time to time.

Bright prospects on the YL-front. "Let's smile when we meet!"

33´, 73´ Sylvi Auromaa OH5RZ